Spike TV fires back at Vince Russo over TNA comments

Vince Russo recently ripped on Spike TV for being a bad partner for TNA in an interview he did with Pro Wrestling Report.

Calling them “atrocious,” Russo said that he doesn’t know why TNA would want to partner up with Spike as they know nothing about the wrestling business. He went as far as saying that TNA will never grow as a company as long as they are broadcasting on Spike TV.

When Spike TV officials read what Russo had to say, they were not thrilled and David Schwarz, the Senior Vice President of Communications fired back with a feisty reply, saying that they paid for Hogan, Bischoff, UK shows, and financed many shows with their own money.

Calling Russo’s comments “complete nonsense,” Schwarz said that they have a great relationship with TNA and they went above and beyond for the company as TNA did for them.

The full reply, published by the Wrestling Observer, is as follows:

“I want to start by saying we enjoyed a great relationship, a very collaborative relationship with Dixie Carter and her team over the years. We took TNA from a late night spot on Saturday nights, doing 500,000 viewers, to a two-hour time slot that did two million viewers over time. Spike went out of its way, not in just adhering to its contract, but above and beyond the contract. We paid Hulk Hogan, we paid Eric Bischoff, with our money. We financed many shows. We financed U.K. shows. We helped promote. We gave TNA a prime time slot of Thursdays from 9-11 p.m. I think his comments are way off base. Clearly, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He’s somebody who thinks more of himself than really exists. Vince Russo never meant anything to Spike TV. He had nothing to do with negotiations. Nobody cares about Vince Russo at Spike TV. Nobody cares or knows who he is. We have a great relationship with TNA. We went above and beyond for them, as they did for us. Dixie helped promote our shows. What Vince Russo is saying is complete nonsense.”